With row boats or pedalos available to hire for a full hour for £7 per for adults, £4 for 6-16-year-olds, under 5’s free or half hour for half the price it’s not an expensive trip out!
It’s safety first at Otley Boats, with all the children needing a life jacket, fitted by a team member before you can board the boat! We opted for an hour on a pedalo- thinking it would be easier than rowing! I’m glad I dragged my sister along for the ride as my legs were killing after an hour pedaling!
Once aboard we headed up the river towards Ilkley. The kids were excited to choose which opening in the bridge we went through and loved seeing all the ducks and swans on the river.
A half hour hire would give you ample time to pedal up the river to just past Westgate Surgery to the turning point and back to the dock at a leisurely speed. In our hours hire we managed to pedal up river twice and back round the bhoy by the dock a couple of times also!
The kids sat back and enjoyed the experience but predictably both then wanted a turn at pedaling… swapping seats was not as nerve-wracking as I expected, the pedalo hardly moved at all as I clambered into the back seat. Mr Mini-Mumbler (6) could just about manage to pedal but my little girl was far too small (3 -but of course you don’t mind so much as they are FREE!). She hopped onto her Auntie’s knee and pretended she was pedaling before taking control of the steering. The pedalo was very responsive to the slightest movement of the rudder so we were all over the place!! She loved it…
The best part of this trip for me was how busy the river was… yes it was a Bank Holiday Monday but the sun was not shining (which I’m glad of because I was hot enough from all the pedaling!!) but to see so many people on the river having fun in our beautiful Wharfedale surroundings was delightful!
Otley Boats are open Saturdays with a range of pedalos and rowing boats available to hire from 10 am until evening, subject to weather conditions. Buoyancy aids will be available for children, and a safety boat manned by trained members of staff will be on the water at all times.
PRICES:
Adults £7 per hour
Children aged 6-16 £4 per hour
Children under 6 Free
Let’s keep the boats on the Wharfe!!
